A little prayer for Caleb

Caleb has had increased complications with his breathing ever since he was hospitalized last Spring for RSV. He obstructs his breathing often throughout the day, and when he's agitated we often have to hold his mouth open for him so that he can get a good breath. I scheduled Caleb for a tracheostomy surgery a few weeks ago because we wanted to see how we felt after taking a step in that direction. We've been really prayerful about whether or not this is right for Caleb. It has been a really difficult decision because Caleb has really good days, and then has really challenging days. On the good days, a trach doesn't seem necessary at all, but on the hard days, I can hardly bear to see how hard he works to breathe. Overall we've decided that a trach has a lot of potential to improve Caleb's quality of life, so we've decided to go ahead with the surgery which is scheduled for next Wednesday. We are also waiting to hear back about the possibility of doing a g tube surgery at the same time. My heart is so tender as I contemplate taking this step and changing the way we've taken care of Caleb up to this point. But I know Heavenly Father will wrap us all up in his arms and help us to have courage. If you have a quiet moment, please say a little prayer for our sweet boy! If you'd like a peek at what Caleb's been up to, take a peek at his blog www.winkfromheaven.blogspot.com

Mormon Synchronized Swimming

A ward talent show at it's best!

When you were little stories

Tonight Josh snuggled his 8 year old body into my lap and Matthew dangled down from the top bunk- both were begging me for when you were little stories. They couldn't stop giggling when I told them how my little sister gave her school teacher cookies made with salt instead of sugar without my mom knowing! They thought it was so funny that the same sister gave a red hot pepper to a neighbor and told her to take a big bite because it was so tasty! They loved hearing about the time someone had an accident on a family trip so we had to stop and rinse the underwear etc. at a rest stop then dangle it all out the window to dry by the time we reached our destination. They also liked hearing about the infamous argument between my brother and sister- one who insisted he could put ice cream in the oven and the other who would see that happen over her dead body!
They also liked hearing about the time I had to put my head down in class because I couldn't stop talking, or the time I chewed on my tongue for a whole day at school just to the teacher would say, "Go spit out your gum" and I could say "I don't have any gum, I'm chewing on my tongue!" Thanks to my 9 siblings for endless story material. It was so fun not only to be the mom tonight, but to be a regular kid with my boys.

Nesting

On a sunny Fall day before the cold settled in, Matthew raked a big pile of leaves, then he sat right in the middle, and TA DA..... pulled out an egg!

Political Analyst

Josh was so interested in the presidential election this year! As soon as he got home from school he was watching the numbers on the Internet. At dinner, he could only eat a few bites before running to the computer to see what color the states were turning. He cried-- really cried when his candidate didn't win. At least he felt better when he found out that he witnessed a historical event that would forever be remembered in our country.

Turkey Pox

Matthew brought home a turkey art project today and asked, "What disease does my turkey have.... TURKEY POX! He drew little red dots all over his turkey, and on each of the four feathers he wrote something he was thankful for: video games, games, the toilet, & ME(himself)! What depth!

Melted Witches

My sister in law brought us a special treat on Halloween "melted witches." I thought they were so clever so I'm making a note to myself to make these next year! They were so cute and yummy!
Melted mint chocolate (melted body)
Mint Oreo Cookie & a chocolate covered Bugle (witch hat)
A pretzel with yellow colored coconut (broom)
Thanks for the great idea!

A Fortunate Halloween Tale

It was the night before Halloween and our boys were so excited to celebrate with candy, candy and more candy!
Unfortunately, Matthew spent that night throwing up on our bedroom carpet.
Fortunately, I threw a pillow under the steady stream of chunks, so the damage was minimal.
Unfortunately, Josh was unaware of the night's ordeal and stepped in the throw-up bowl as he crawled down from the top bunk.
Fortunately, Dallan had lined the floor with towels.
Unfortunately, Matthew stayed home from school that morning.
Fortunately, he perked up and felt well enough to attend his class party which I was helping with.
Unfortunately, Josh still hadn't decided what he wanted to dress up like for trick or treating. He dressed up like a "Kid" at school because he doesn't like to dress up.
Fortunately, he has a creative mom with LOTS of great ideas!
Unfortunately, he thinks his mom's ideas are embarrassing.
Fortunately, Josh put together his own costume with random pieces from the dress up box.
Unfortunately, it started sprinkling as we began our trick or treat adventure.
Fortunately, our Mickey Mitchell, Ninja Matthew, Pumpkin Caleb, and random super-hero Josh were not deterred from their candy mission.
Unfortunately, Caleb couldn't trick or treat for long because it was a little bit chilly for him.
Fortunately, Mitchie was so cute that he could get away with taking a handful of candy out of each bowl to make up for Caleb!
Unfortunately, Matthew tired out earlier than usual because he hadn't eaten much that day.
Fortunately, Dallan and Josh carried on and we have enough candy to last us until Christmas!
Unfortunately, our last trick of treaters of the night had a man dressed up like a creepy monster with them.
Fortunately, I didn't think that Mitchell noticed.
Unfortunately, I was wrong. He wouldn't go to sleep because he needed to "hide from scary monsters that get you" and he doesn't believe me when I say there are no monsters because he SAW one!
Fortunately, all of the boys were finally tucked into bed with visions of sugar and monsters in their heads!
HAPPY HALLOWEEN!

'She'-lock Holmes

Clues:
A room full of wiggly boys
"Who done it?" awards
A 'round' of applause
1 flag ceremony
2 silly games
A mad dash for cheap cookies

"By jove I think you've got it!" I dressed up like Sherlock Holmes for cub scout Pack Night...

Brothers

"To the outside world we all grow old. But not to brothers... We know each other as we always were. We know each other's hearts...We live outside the touch of time"
Author: Clara Ortega

'Move' to action

Have you ever watched a movie that touched you so much that it moved you to act? Today I was watching a clip from one of my favorite movies while holding sweet Caleb in my lap. I saw "Awakenings" for the first time in high school. I was so moved by it's message that I started volunteering at a rest home every Monday after school. I fell in love with the sweet men and women I visited. One could only communicate by blinking once for "yes" and twice for "no." Another just wanted me to rub her arms for her. Another patient used to lick my cheek to show me she loved me. One loved it when I would take her for walks. I cried whenever I walked into a room of one of my friends, and they were no longer there. They often didn't remember me from one visit to the next, but I know I will never forget what they taught my heart.
In the movie a doctor asks a mother if her comatose son ever speaks. She replies "of course not, not with words..." I held Caleb tight and cried because I knew exactly what she meant.

Pony tails and hair bows

If you've ever dropped by to see me, you know that you'll usually find my hair in a pony tail. Why do I like to wear my hair in a pony tail? It's efficient! I can do my hair in 3 minutes flat! A pony tail makes it so that my neck doesn't feel sweaty and itchy. It keeps my hair out of my face so that I don't have that tickly hairy feeling. It keeps my hair clear of spit up and other unidentified flying goop.
I love pony tails. I also love hair ribbons, flowers, and other fru-fru accessories to tie around them. Why? Even though I'm a boy mom it doesn't mean I can't have a splash of femininity every once in a while. I like to have happy hair. When ever I recieve a gift with a ribbon tied around it, my first thought is, I wonder if this would tie in my hair! When I was a little girl my mom always tied ribbons in our hair, and I guess I never grew out of it! Do you think I 'll be able to get away with hair bows when I'm eighty? I'll probably be known as the crazy hair bow lady with way too many books.....

Primary program

Josh and Matthew were in the primary program today! Josh memorized a scripture and sang in a small group, and Matthew said his part like a pro!
Primary programs are an adventure at our house. Every year I have to confiscate something from Matthew. One year he secretly brought his goofy teeth and popped them in during the first song. One year he had toilet paper plugging up his nose. This year I had to take away a fake spider during the practice. But during the performance today, he said he only put a piece of lint on the girl's chair next to him and "she didn't even notice!" We're making progress!

Rocking chairs in Heaven

I hope there are rocking chairs in Heaven. I know that I feel the closest to Heaven when I'm rocking in mine. It's probably because when I'm in that chair, my lap is full of little ones who were there not very long ago. When I'm rocking Mitchell to sleep for his nap, I know I'm breaking all of the 'sleep expert' rules because I should be putting him in his bed and let him fall asleep on his own. But when snuggles right next to my heart and his breathing becomes slow and even I know this is what Heaven feels like. When I sit in my rocking chair with Caleb, we have the sweetest conversations without ever saying words. Our hearts whisper to each other, and I know this must be how we speak in heaven. When Matthew joins me in the chair and he giggles while I tickle him in his "tickle spots," I know those giggles make music in heaven. Josh is almost as big as I am when he sits on my lap to rock for a minute. While his legs are hanging to the floor and I can smell the sunshine in his hair, I know that Heaven must smell like that. His moments in my rocking chair are becoming shorter and aren't as often as I wish they were. I hope that in Heaven I have a big rocking chair on my porch- one that can never be outgrown- and one that will always face the sunshine.

What were you doing at noon today?

I was dancing to "Thriller" at the rec center as part of the "Thrill the World Campaign." Today at noon people all over the world were dancing Thriller to mark it's 25 year anniversary! Many events raise money for local charities and all are included in setting and breaking world records. So I'm feeling like a pretty totally Hip Housewife about now! You can check out www.thrilltheworld.com if you want to learn thriller in time for Halloween!! You know you want to....then you can thrill all of your friends at your next ward activity! Now I just need to buy a white glove and learn to do the moonwalk!